Hi guys! My router at home has been giving me a few problems lately, mainly I can't connect to the internet or it boots me off. It's a Cisco Links WRT54G (I've had it for about 8 years now). I'm in the market for a new one. I have my Xbox 360 connected directly to it, then I have my PS3 and laptop that are connected to it wireless. I do play video games online.

I was needing some help to pick one out. My budget will just be south of $80-$90. Any help is appreciated!

Also, I do have one other question. I was wanting to hook my modem up downstairs to my A/V system. I also have Cox Cable. Can I use a two way splitter to hook that up, or do I have to have a dedicated line going outside to my cable box? Thanks again!

I replaced that exact router a few years ago as I wanted faster wireless. Initially I bought the D-Link DIR###(can't recall model but it's outdated anyway now) because it had some really flexible functionality. Unfortunately it simply would not play nice with my Sonos system no matter what I did - random unexplained disconnects. I switched back to the old router and everything worked perfect so I knew it wasn't the Sonos system. I returned the D-Link and bought a Linksys and have been going trouble free for over 3 years. Have only rebooted a few times. I like other D Link products but my best success on routers has been with Linksys. YMMV.

Using Linksys here with a router and 2 unmanaged switches and a hub, couldn't be happier. Everything is gigabit and I can transfer files at 111 MB/s . As for your AV receiver I assume its network capable. If you can run a cat5e or cat 6 cable from your router down to your basement,from there you can use a switch or hub if you want to have more than just your receiver hooked to the internet.. I live in the Yukon and it gets -40 here and all I did was drill a hole in my wall and run the cable one the outside of the house. Goin on 3 yrs no problems.

Linksys is made by Cisco, Cisco is best in the world and used in major businesses. They practically develope routers.

What you also want to look into is a router that does 2.4 and 5 ghz simutaneously. You can get simu and switchable, meaning you run either 2.4 or 5ghz. Your movies and games run on the 5ghz and computers, VOIP etc on the 2.4ghz.

Gaming takes bandwidth, this would not slow down your internet if it is on 5 ghz.I have a seperate Dlink Bridge hooked up to my AMP and it is hooked up wired to this wireless Bridge, which is connected to the Cisco wireless.Dlink is good but get atleast the Extreme. Do not get Belkin, drops connections alot but cheap. If you can afford to spend the extra $50 it is better worth it.

I also share a hate for DLink products. I cringe when I get into working with a customer who wants to go VOIP and the closets are full of cheap DLink switches or other budget models. For that reason, I have no personal experience with thier home product line so I can't truly comment on the home line. However, my thoughts are that if they won't spend the R&D to make reliable business models, how could I expect them to be better on the residential line.

I'm also puzzled on the 2nd question. I assume you must have a cable modem from your ISP. Unfortunately my company lives in the fiber and copper world. Cable is the enemy. heheh. I haven't done networking on coax since my school daze where there was still,among other things, an aging VAX VMS network on token ring. Yup, I'm old.

Generally though, you would not 'normally' consider networking your house via coax. Also, you would not normally try to split your ISP's feed ahead of the modem and run two modems/routers. It may or not be technically possible but I doubt very much your ISP would support splitting it ahead of their supplied modem.

If that is what you mean, instead do as others have suggested. Buy a small Ethernet switch and then run Cat5 or 6 to everywhere you need a connection in your house. Wireless is indeed also a much improved option these days as well.

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With great power comes Awesome irresponsibility.

Cisco is NOT the best in the world, and they certainly don't put their high end routing gear into Linksys.

Personally, I'd still go with Linksys, Netgear, or Apple (if you already have Apple stuff) for home use.

2.4Ghz and 5Ghz have nothing at all to do with speed of the connection. It's all about interference and distance. 5Ghz will have less interference from microwaves, cordless phones, other people's wireless, but it will not extend as far as 2.4.

Unless you live in Kansas City (or only use the earliest version of wifi), I guarantee that your internet connection is slower than your wireless connection.

I hate DLink as well.

As far as upstairs/downstairs, like everyone else said, split the connection AFTER your router, not before. Use ethernet or wifi to get from upstairs to downstairs.

...I returned the D-Link and bought a Linksys and have been going trouble free for over 3 years. Have only rebooted a few times. I like other D Link products but my best success on routers has been with Linksys. YMMV....

Guys, I never said I hate D Link products, just that their router did not work for me whereas the Linksys did. I have a D Link NAS that has served me well for several years - well worth the entry level price I paid for it.

Good to hear your opinion though as this is your area of expertise and I am just a home hobby hack!